Invisible Wounds Conference

PTSDJournal held its first Invisible Wounds Conference on the campus of Rutgers-Newark in the Paul Robeson Center. The day-long discussion consisted of three 90-minute panels focused on Domestic Violence, Urban Impact and Military Adjustment. The conversations centered on how individuals deal with domestic violence, the connection of trauma and living in major metropolitan cities and how veterans returning home from combat adjust to civilian life. Prudential Financial was the title sponsor of the conference. Over 150 people attended the conference and were educated on treatments, triggers and the overall impact trauma has on everyday life.

Sgt. Dakota Meyer talks about how he has been successful adjusting to civilian life following his military career. Meyer is the second youngest living Medal of Honor recipient and the first living Marine in 38 years to be so honored.

Keynote speaker Rich Pompelio owned the audience’s attention describing how he established the New Jersey Crime Victims Law Center over 25 years ago. Pompelio provides full-time pro bono legal assistance to victims of violent crimes. His passion was sparked after his 17-year-old son, Tony, was murdered in 1989.

Rutgers professor David Troutt provided the audience with empirical evidence that trauma in major metropolitan cities impacts the lives of young children and adults at disproportionate levels during the Urban Impact panel discussion.

Prudential Financial VP with Veterans Initiatives Jim Beamesderfer addressed the audience to explain why Prudential served as title sponsor of the Invisible Wounds Conference and how the company supports its veteran employees with a plethora of initiatives.

Matthew Reddam, policy and practice coordinator for San Francisco based Trauma Transformed explained to the audience how is organization makes sure that support systems for families in the Bay Area follow children and adults when families move from one part of the community to another section.

Sexual assault survivor Ron Blake flew in from Phoenix, Arizona to tell the audience how watching the Late Show with Stephen Colbert was the dose of medicine he needed to start recovering from the trauma inflicted on him after he was attacked by three men in his own apartment.

Moderator Dr. Dale Caldwell skillfully kept discussions on topic while allowing the audience to interact and participate during the three-panel discussions of the Invisible Wounds Conference.

DAV (Disabled American Veterans) past Commander David Riley, a quadruple amputee, educated the audience on how the organization supports veterans.

Members of the local VFW sign in at the registration table for the Invisible Wounds Conference. The DAV (Disabled American Veterans) was an associate sponsor of the event with Prudential and Alpha-Stim.

Rutgers representative Dr. Diane Hill, Assistant Chancellor, Rutgers University-Newark, welcomed the attendees for attending the Invisible Wounds Conference. Rutgers was an early supporter of the event, which was held on its Newark Campus in the Paul Robeson Campus Center.

Chris Kreiger, a Panelist and Co-Founder of West New York Heroes Inc., brought his service dog to the conference, demonstrating another example of how veterans get support when they return home from combat.